Memory Books

Two projects in a row - both memory books. Memory books surely are my most poignant commission work. I so deeply appreciate the connection I get to make to the person bring remembered, in addition to connecting with their loved ones (for whom the book is really for). I never would have guessed that a simple act like bookbinding could impart this level of emotional involvement but creating memory books continues to truly be my honor. Every time. 

I never fail to be amazed by the breadth of diversity among commission work. These two memory books are shining examples of such.

 The first book shown here features pages which were given out to loved ones to fill with content. Friends and family decorated the pages with writing, drawing, and photos. The completed pages were bound together with ribbon. Bright and cheerful colors pay homage to a young man who died at 22. I poured love for a stranger into the binding of this book for his parents. 

The other memory book was in honor of a loving father and outstanding husband. He finally succumbed to ALS after a long campaign. His wife told me all about the celebrations his life-long friends were able to have in his name - gatherings all over the country, including a magical outdoor festival with music and fireflies. He was an accomplished woodworker and his wife was really hoping to incorporate some aspect of wood into the book. I had been saving some special wood veneer for just the right project, and was enthused to put it to use in this extra large album. She asked that I bind the blank book in time for her trip to visit her daughter and son. They were going to spend their time together filling the album with content they had been gathering in his memory. I've obscured the nameplate in this photo for privacy, but the plate read his name and dates of life. The emotional involvement I had with this one really inspired the execution of using unconventional materials with the extra large format. His widow really wanted this book to be special, and I am so pleased and honored that it turned out beautifully. Sometimes, I really do feel like books make themselves - this definitely was the case with this one.

Amazing Commission Project

In the early 1980s, an artist father lovingly illustrated the paper lunch sacks he sent with his 3 kids to school everyday. They kept many of them (especially the really great ones!) and all these years later, his daughter wanted to have them bound together as an artist book to gift to him, and also display as part of a 2016 retrospective show honoring his life's work.

I customized archival sleeves to fit the bags exactly, with a few conjoined bi-folds and tri-folds to keep diptychs and triptychs in order. Containing about 150 bags, the structure necessitated two large ring binders, and hefty magnets to latch everything together. I could hardly believe how much bookcloth this thing consumed!

The cover image is a composite of one of the original images, and a handwritten "Lunch" which is what the client chose to title the book. I really enjoyed the collaborative process while executing this project, and am proud of the (literal) size of this achievement!

Coptic Stitch - Simplified! Oct 11, 2015

This class was offered last October. I've been teaching these stitch-focused classes using practice templates and pre-torn/pre-folded textblock signatures. It has really improved the participant's stitching quality, especially for those who have never tried something like this before.

I used to teach this class over two class sessions, but we made these beautiful books in one afternoon!

I hope to keep offering classes based on this exposed-spine technique. They are beautiful, satisfying to make, and the books they yield are incredibly versatile and useful.

Kid's Pajaki

Warning... Pajaki are addicting. You may find yourself attempting to incorporate them into your life as much as possible. Case in point - the kid's pajaki kit I brought with me when visiting my 5 and 7 year old nieces!

This kit included: white paper straws, washi tape, XL star sequins, embroidery hoop, waxed linen thread, paper scraps, and paper punches.

Quality-time quote (in reference to the waxed linen thread): "Is this real earwax, or just regular wax?"

On Motherhood and... Sheep Pajaki!

My personal artistic pace and time for bookarts and other creative endeavors has been recently altered (to say the least). This Spring my firstborn made his entrance into this world! Graham is his name, and currently drooling is his game. He truly is my greatest creation yet. 

I'd like to share the Pajaki paper chandelier I made for him. Pajakis are wonderfully decorative and geometric. I love the symmetry that goes into designing them, and the range of embellishments that can adorn the structured form are so enticing. They are a traditional folk art from Poland and the name translates to "spiders of straw". I have been ready to try my hand at constructing one for some time now, and a baby-mobile-type-thing was the perfect excuse. 

If you are interested in learning how to make Pajaki, I strongly encourage you to take the class offered at Two Hands Paperie. Taught by one of the shop owners, Mia Semingson, this class is so popular it can usually be found on the current class listings. 

Here is the link to the Pajaki class offered this Fall: 

http://www.twohandspaperie.com/Pajaki_Paper_Chandelier_Class_p/class_pajak.htm

Photos: Mia Semingson

Pajaki seems to be enjoying a resurgence as of late, and I love some of the modern takes I have seen (I'm usually a sucker for contemporary design twists honoring historic tradition). Some decorative embellishments common to traditional Pajaki are pompoms, paper flowers, and tassels. While I love all of these types of ornamentations, I had something specific in mind for this baby-themed Pakaji... SHEEP! 

Photo: relaimedwool.com

First of all, I have no interest in learning how to needle felt, and second of all Heidi Leugers makes the most fantastic sheep ornaments from reclaimed wool, so really the only task was to choose the perfect flock of 6 for the Pajaki! 

Here is Heidi's website if you are interested to know more:

http://www.reclaimedwool.com/

I used paper, pompoms, and straws from Two Hands Paperie.

Photos: twohandspaperie.com

Covering the straws in paper was quite meditative.

I kept the rest of the Pajaki embellishments on the simple side - I wanted the sheep to be the focal point. I loved the exercise of engineering the geometry design! I also contemplated my son as I was creating. Making art for specific people always seems to invite intimate meditation on that person, and I was grateful to have this project to bask in my new assignment as a mom.

Well enough about the process - here is the final result! I definitely encourage anyone to have a go at Pajaki!

Spring Classes - Star Stitch (again) & Light It Up! Paper Fireflies

The next round of classes at Two Hands Paperie has begun, and the full class list sure is exciting! I might just finally get around to taking Mia's Pajaki class like I say I'm going to every time. 

I'll be teaching the Star Stitch Binding class again, as it was met with such enthusiasm last Fall. As of today, there are only 2 spots left, so if you are at all interested you'd better sign up! The Fall class was so fun, this really is a satisfying project. Everyone's books turned out so great.

Here's a couple photos of the books we made in class.

Star Stitch Binding Class - Sunday February 8th 11-5

class info link is here 

The other class I will be teaching is a continuation of the Light It Up! series we've been offering, using Lilypad Arduino sewable electronic technology. This project is just so fun because... well, who doesn't like twinkling lights? We will paper-collage a firefly environment to fit inside a large mason jar. And then we'll stitch up little LED lights with conductive thread and make it all glow. The LilyTwinkle Arduino board gives the whole thing magic and flash.

I love fireflies. We don't have them here in Colorado, but this way I can just make my own.

Light It Up! Paper Fireflies Class - Sunday March 8th 12:30-4:30

class info link is here

Visit the Two Hands class webpage for the full offering of Paperie goodness this Fall.

http://www.twohandspaperie.com/Classes_at_Two_Hands_Paperie_s/1854.htm

A Change of Scenery and NEW Classes at Two Hands!

Whelp, change has come for me after 14 amazing years working for the Boulder Arts & Crafts Gallery, I've switched it up and am now employed by my other favorite place to be - Two Hands Paperie!! 

It feels like a really great fit, work-wise, and I've been instantly inspired as part of such a creative place. Here's the window display I designed - a challenge from the Cavallini Paper Co. We recycled last year's calendar prints to create the pattern...

Photo: Mia Semingson

I will continue to teach classes offered through the shop, with two NEW classes on the schedule this fall. I'm also on the bill for the Visiting Artist Series "Spotlight Friday" which will feature my work, including some new stuff I've been doing with electronic LED lights.

A lot going on in the next few months! Please be sure to check out the

ENTIRE TWO HANDS EVENT/CLASS SCHEDULE
link is here

In addition to a variety of workshops and classes, there's creative playdates, art technique talks, and visiting artist events - many of which are FREE! Hope to see you there :)

Here's a little detail about the two classes I'm offering. It has been really fun coming up with something new to teach, and I'm so looking forward to them both:

Sewing on Tape - Star Stitch

Photos: Mia Semingson

This project was inspired by a 3-day sewing workshop I took last spring with Kitty Maryatt, offered through the Book Arts League. The workshop was all about sewing! Sewing. For 3 days. It was great.
The star stitch was one of the prettiest stitches, I thought, so I incorporated the stitch into this class which also practices the technique of sewing on tapes - both for structural support AND good looks. I'll be throwing in some geekery regarding the history of medieval manuscripts as well, as this structure is derived from knowledge of those.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20th - class link HERE

Light it Up! Carousel Book

My friend Shari (who organizes all the classes at Two Hands) challenged me to come up with a class that incorporated some of the "maker" sentiment that's gaining popularity these days. My involvement with DIY electronics stems from personal friendships with (including a marriage to) employees of SparkFun Electronics. I took the challenge, and engineered a book that lights up! I'm jazzed about this project because it melds traditional paper structure with newer e-textile technology and uses fun components like tiny LED lights, and conductive thread. 

SATURDAY OCTOBER 11th - class link HERE

I'll be bringing more examples, and talking about using this type of technology in conjunction with bookmaking, at the "Spotlight Friday" Visiting Artist Series taking place at Two Hands. This one's FREE so stop by and say hi!

FRIDAY OCTOBER 3rd   2-4PM

Book Ornament Class - Two Hands Paperie

Sunday, November 10th, 1:00-4:00 PM This small folded "book" is full of fun! It pops open into a star. It springs out into a chain. It looks far more complicated than it is, and offers tremendous creative possibilities for personalizing it with text, poetry, photographs, and collage. Book artist Kristen Law will teach you the simple folds for creating both the Explosion Book and a small origami box to hold it. Only about two inches square, these little books make delightful gifts for all celebrations. They can also be hung in a window or on a tree as a unique ornament.     Click on the link below for more info or to register for the class! http://www.twohandspaperie.com/Explosion_Book_With_Origami_Presentation_Box_p/class_explbk.htm

WORKSHOP - Collaborative Artist Book Intensive: Letterpress and Coptic Binding Technique

I'll be team-teaching a class with Julia Seko, offered through the Boulder Book Arts League

October 24, 26 & Nov 2, 2013

Visit  http://www.bookartsleague.org/classes-and-workshops/ to sign up!

In this workshop we’ll work together to create a limited edition artist book/ journal on the theme of creative process. Instructors Kristen Law and Julia Seko will guide participants in creating open-ended sections decorated with hand set letterpress text and using media of their own choice. Each participant will then bind their own book using a decorative link stitch, practicing the coptic binding technique. In this way, the class will create a small edition of books chronicling the workshop experience and also leaving blank pages for use as journalling, generating other ideas, or for future collaboration.

       WHEN: Class meets 3 days as follows:

• Thursday Oct 24 from 6 – 9 pm
• Saturday Oct 26 from 10 am – 4 pm
• Saturday Nov 2 from 10 am – 4 pm

CLASS FEE: $150 BAL members/$160 non-members, $15 materials fee
PARTICIPANTS: Minimum 4, maximum 7
LOCATION: Ewing Farm

Spring Classes at Two Hands!

Here we find another round of class offerings at the wonderful Two Hands Paperie! In addition to the classes, be sure to check out all the FREE events they put on, including the very neat 

Visiting Artist Series.

I'm teaching two classes this session - Japanese Stab Album, and Coptic Bookbinding. These two techniques are my top favorite. Needless to say, I'm amped for some spring bookmaking!

The Japanese Stab Album class is THIS SATURDAY! The time has been changed to 2-5pm. Here's a few pics from the last class:

The Coptic Bookbinding class is a two-session class and the dates are April 27th, and May 4th.

The full list of spring classes and events at Two Hands can be found here:

http://www.twohandspaperie.com/blog/classes-events/

Happy Spring!